U.S. patent application number 10/672341 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-14 for placemat with protective bumper and accessory restraint system.
Invention is credited to Madden, Michelle Lynn.
Application Number | 20050076814 10/672341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34422021 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050076814 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Madden, Michelle Lynn |
April 14, 2005 |
Placemat with protective bumper and accessory restraint system
Abstract
A placemat designed to provide a padded, sanitary surface off
which a child can eat while also providing an accessory restraint
system. The placemat consists of a cleanable mat with a bumper,
frictional backing and loops used to attach accessories, all of
which attaches to a horizontal surface by way of adjustable arms
and pins, screws and grips. The placemat is completely portable and
easily attaches to tables of varying thicknesses and shapes.
Inventors: |
Madden, Michelle Lynn;
(Grand Prairie, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHELLE LYNN MADDEN
1104 CHANCELLORSVILLE PKWY.
GRAND PRAIRIE
TX
75052
US
|
Family ID: |
34422021 |
Appl. No.: |
10/672341 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/44 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47G 23/0303 20130101;
A47B 13/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
108/044 |
International
Class: |
A47B 023/00; A47B
037/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A combination protective bumper and placemat, wherein the
improvement comprises: a. utilizing prior art plastic toy links or
another tethering system and, b. loops affixed to the placemat,
providing means to restrain accessories from falls and loss, c. the
ability to be reduced in size for ease of transport while remaining
one singular unit at all times.
2. A method for attaching said combination protective bumper,
placemat, and accessory restraint system to an exposed edge of a
table, wherein the improvement comprises: a. utilizing a means of
frictional materials and a variable-depth, compression-type
gripping system.
3. Said protective bumper is of a washable material, permanently
affixed to the structure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to placemats, particularly for use by
children when dining, specifically adding new functionality.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] When children are seated in chairs at restaurants, they are
often seated at a level lower than desired and they often lean over
the chair into the hard, sharp edge of the table. In the past,
parents or guardians were required to diligently observe the child
to ensure against injury on a hard table edge or surface, greatly
reducing an opportunity of enjoying the meal, social atmosphere and
dining companions. Prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to Santa Cruz
et al (2000), attempted to solve this problem by providing a bumper
of sorts, but the prior art allowed the removal of the bumper
padding, allowing the opportunity for the padding to be loosened,
removed or lost, eliminating the bumper capability.
[0006] Because of the multitudes of table types and thicknesses, a
means of attachment to the table must accommodate varying
thicknesses. Based upon prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to Santa
Cruz et al (2000) description, figures, preferred materials, and
proposed embodiments, one can observe that the proposed J-shaped
"inserts" adversely limit the thickness of the table that the prior
art can accommodate.
[0007] Because children may resist the use or desire to remove the
placemat system, it is desirable to create a highly frictional
relationship between the placemat and the table. Though prior art,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,162 to Santa Cruz et al (2000) cover material
of choice, vinyl, provides some friction against movement, it is
neither addressed nor suggested to be designed specifically to
overcome such an issue.
[0008] Understanding that a caregiver in charge of a child most
often has numerous toys and supplies to transport, it is desirable
to minimize the opportunity to lose parts of an apparatus. The
"slidably . . . remove[able]" inserts in prior art, U.S. Pat. No.
6,116,162 to Santa Cruz et al (2000), are able to be lost or broken
when not inserted in their the respective slots. The loss or
breakage of these key apparatus would render the prior art placemat
unusable.
[0009] As mentioned above, for the sake of feeding and entertaining
children, many toys, books and feeding accessories are transported.
Often, when a child is given an object, it is played with then
deposited on the floor. No prior art has addressed the issue of
restraining the accessories of a child, keeping them suspended or
removed from undesirable surfaces.
SUMMARY
[0010] The purpose of this placemat is to provide an accessory
restraint system that is adjustable but securely fastenable, and
provides a sanitary surface as well as an edge bumper.
[0011] Objects and Advantages
[0012] Several objects and advantages of this placemat are:
[0013] (a) to provide means of attaching a plurality of links
(prior art) or other tether system, of any suitable material or
design, to the invention and subsequently removeably attaching any
children's accessories;
[0014] (b) to provide fasteners, able to: attach to but avoid
structural or decorative elements of the furnishing, adapt to
uneven surfaces, and accommodate a plurality of furnishing
thicknesses;
[0015] (c) to provide a plurality of gripping surfaces of
traction-providing material, able to resist the horizontal pull of
the user;
[0016] (d) while having moveable parts, to be designed to remain
assembled at all times, eliminating the opportunity to lose
parts;
[0017] (e) to, while remaining as one object, be collapsible for
easy transport and storage;
[0018] (f) to provide in combination a protective bumper and
placemat that is reusable, water-resistant, made from non-toxic
materials and is able to be cleaned;
[0019] (g) to provide a bumper, placemat and restraint system that
is removeably attachable to substantially any suitable table of
choice, including various shaped tables, either geometric or
amorphous in shape;
[0020] (h) to provide, in combination, a protective bumper,
placemat and accessory restraint system wherein the cover member is
substantially made from any suitable material of choice, such as
vinyl or the like, which is washable, non-toxic, water-resistant,
etc.;
[0021] (i) to provide a bumper that includes any suitable
cushioning of choice therein, such as any typical padding that is
non-toxic and washable, or the like;
[0022] (j) to provide a means to adjustably, both horizontally and
vertically, attach and removeably affix the placemat to the
table;
[0023] (k) to provide substantial protection for the table;
[0024] (l) to provide substantially a sanitary eating surface;
[0025] (m) to alleviate any hard or sharp edges or protrusions of
the existing table that may injure the user;
[0026] (n) to be of sufficient size to cover substantially at least
a portion of the table within arms reach of a child when seated at
the table;
[0027] (o) to provide a user-friendly, reliably constructed,
placemat, easily adapted to most any dining table or eating
surface.
[0028] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0029] FIG. 1A is a sectional view of the placemat.
[0030] FIG. 2A is an overhead view of the placemat when coiled.
[0031] FIG. 3A is a sectional view when the placemat is coiled.
[0032] FIG. 4A is a view from behind, looking at the inner side of
the placemat.
[0033] FIG. 5A is a view from the front, looking at the bumper
portion and adjustable knobs.
[0034] FIG. 6A is an overhead view of the placemat when attached to
a surface.
[0035] FIG. 7A is a side view of the accessory restraint system
using prior art accessories.
[0036] FIG. 1B is a view from behind, looking at the inner side of
the placemat and power button.
[0037] FIG. 2B is a side view of the accessory restraint system
identifying the battery compartment.
NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0038] 6 (prior art)
[0039] 8 (prior art) links
[0040] 10 slats
[0041] 11 mat
[0042] 12 frictional backing
[0043] 14 loops
[0044] 16 c-shaped base
[0045] 18 bumper
[0046] 20 pin
[0047] 22 pin grommets
[0048] 24 knob
[0049] 26 screw
[0050] 28 grip
[0051] 30 arm
[0052] 32 bumper covering
[0053] 40 (prior art) drink insulator
[0054] 42 (prior art) toy
[0055] 44 (prior art) suction cup
[0056] 46 power button
[0057] 48 battery compartment.
DESCRIPTION--FIGS. 1A THROUGH 7A --PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0058] The referred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 through FIG. 7.
[0059] The mat 11 is composed of multiple slats 10, permanently
attached to the frictional backing 12, butted so tightly together
that when as shown (FIG. 1), the slats 10 create a surface that
appears without any open joints or cracks.
[0060] Two loops 14 are located on the left and right sides of the
mat surface, functioning in a way so that prior art links 8 may be
attached to them. The c-shaped base 16 is made of a thickness such
that its thickness plus the thickness of the frictional backing 12
will equal the same dimension as the depth of the slats 10 plus the
frictional backing 12, creating a smooth transition between parts.
The height of the c-shaped base 16 is typically 3 inches. A
washable bumper 18 is affixed to the c-shaped base 16, of a
thickness to shield a child from injury should impact occur between
the child and the c-shaped base 16.
[0061] A pin 20 requiring pressure to disengage it from the
provided pin grommets 22 is provided to maintain the desired length
of the adjustable arm 30. The pin 20 is depressed thus allowing
said arm 30 to move horizontally. A screw 26 with a frictional grip
28 at the end opposite the knob 24 is provided at the distal end of
the arm 30, to tighten against the prior art table 6. By turning
the knob 24 in a clockwise motion, the grip moves vertically upward
to sandwich the table between the grip 28 and the frictional
backing 12.
[0062] Operation--Preferred Embodiment
[0063] First, one unrolls the placemat allowing the mat 11 to be
fully extended. The screws 20 are loosened by rotating the knobs 24
in a counter-clockwise direction to increase the distance of the
grip 28 to the frictional padding 12. Once the screws 26 and
subsequently, the grips 28 have been adjusted to accept the depth
of the table 6 between them, the c-shaped base 16 is slid
horizontally, and pressed firmly against the table 6. The screws 20
are tightened by rotating the knobs 24 in a clockwise direction to
decrease the distance of the grip 28 from the table 6.
[0064] If the table 6 has structural or decorative impediments to
avoid and requires arm 30 extension, then pin 20 is depressed while
arm 30 is adjusted in the desired direction by either pulling or
pushing in a horizontal direction. The pin 20 will pop into an
available grommet 22 to retain the desired arm 30 length.
[0065] To use the accessory restraint system, one attaches prior
art links 8 through the loops 14, linking and extending the prior
art links 8 the desired length. The distal end of the length of
prior art links 8 is then attached to the accessory of choice, such
as prior art drink insulator 40 or prior art toy 42.
[0066] To remove the placemat from the table 6, the screws 20 are
loosened by rotating the knobs 24 in a counter-clockwise direction
to increase the distance of the grip 28 to the table 6. The
c-shaped base 16 is pulled horizontally from the edge of the table
6. If desired, the bumper covering 32, protecting the bumper 18,
may be wiped with a wet cloth for cleaning.
[0067] To store the placemat, beginning at one end of the mat 11
parallel with the table 6 edge, one rolls the slats 10 of the mat
11 toward the frictional backing 12, coiling them until they cannot
be coiled any further.
DESCRIPTION--FIGS. 1B-2B--ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT
[0068] As an alternate embodiment, the mat 11 may be comprised of a
singular surface, such as vinyl, with an integrated or mechanically
incorporated frictional backing 12. This mat may also utilize
suction cups (prior art) 44 at the end most remote from the user in
order to attach it more firmly to the existing table surface on
which it is used.
[0069] The grips 28 of this embodiment may also be automated,
closing tightly upon contact with the underside of the table
surface, through the use of a battery operated power button 46.
[0070] Operation--Alternate Embodiment
[0071] First, one unrolls the placemat allowing the mat 11 to be
fully extended. The c-shaped base 16 is slid horizontally, and
pressed firmly against the table 6. Suction cups (prior art) 44 at
the remote end of the mat would be adhered to the surface. The
grips 28 are engaged with the underside of the table by pressing
and holding the power button 46 the appropriate direction to
decrease the distance of the grip 28 to the frictional padding
12.
[0072] To remove the placemat from the table 6, the grips 28 are
loosened by pressing and holding the power button 46 the
appropriate direction to increase the distance of the grip 28 to
the table 6. The suction cups (prior art) 44 are disengaged from
the surface. The c-shaped base 16 is pulled horizontally from the
edge of the table 6. If desired, the bumper covering 32, protecting
the bumper 18, may be wiped with a wet cloth for cleaning.
[0073] To store the placemat, beginning at one end of the mat 11
parallel with the table 6 edge, one rolls the mat 11 toward the
frictional backing 12, coiling it until it cannot be coiled any
further.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE
[0074] Accordingly, the reader will see that the use of this
placemat with protective bumper and accessory restraint system is
simple and effective when used to protect against accidental bumps
and injuries sustainable on the edge of a dining table or eating
surface.
[0075] Furthermore, the placemat with protective bumper and
accessory restraint system has additional advantages in that
[0076] it provides a sanitary eating surface;
[0077] it provides a non-removable padding that cannot be lost,
which would diminish the usefulness;
[0078] it can accommodate varying thicknesses of surfaces to which
it may be attached;
[0079] its frictional surface backing and table-depth adjustable
grips overcome the obstacle of children removing it while in
use;
[0080] its working apparatuses cannot be removed, thus avoiding
loss that would render it unusable;
[0081] it restrains children's accessories, keeping them from
undesirable surfaces.
[0082] Although the description above is specific in many details,
these are not to be used to limit the scope of the invention as
they have been provided to explain further the features of the
preferred embodiment. For example, the mat can be composed of other
systems, not limited to the slatted version illustrated in the
preferred embodiment drawings; the grips can be comprised of
another system achieving the same result, such as a pin and grommet
system, etc.
[0083] Thus, the scope of this invention should be realized by the
attached claims and their legal equivalents, rather than solely by
the examples given.
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